Weekend Developments From Europe's Top Leagues

After another weekend of exciting football action here's the latest developments in the big title races (and those ugly relegation battles) around Europe.

SPANISH LA LIGA

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Barcelona	46
2	Real Madrid	41
3	Valencia	38
4	Mallorca	33
6	Sevilla	30

Champions FC Barcelona extended their lead this weekend when they triumphed 4-0 over FC Sevilla, while Real Madrid slipped up at the tricky San Mames, 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao.

An early headed goal from Fernando Llorente was the difference as a combination of bad luck and bad misses cost Madrid. Karim Benzema appeared out of form too.

Elsewhere, Valencia firmed in third spot after thumping ten-man Villarreal 4-1. The Yellow Submarine are now languishing in tenth. Meanwhile, in the basement battle, a 0-0 draw between Zaragoza and Xerez did little to help either side.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Chelsea	48
2	Manchester Utd	47
3	Arsenal	45
4	Tottenham	38
7	Liverpool	34

It is as you were at the top of the table in England after all the top three collected maximum points over the weekend. Chelsea's stunning 7-2 victory over Sunderland probably wins our attention though.

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini's Manchester City slipped to their first loss under the Italian at Everton. The Sky Blues do appear to have the ingredients for success, but it'll take time. Elsewhere, Liverpool continue to struggle after conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 at Stoke City.

Down the wrong end of the table, Wolverhampton worryingly lost their third league match in a row after 2-0 home defeat to Wigan, while life under Owen Coyle at Bolton didn't start with points after a 2-0 loss to Arsenal. The Trotters did put up a fight though.

ITALIAN SERIE A

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Internazionale	46
2	AC Milan	40
3	AS Roma	35
4	Napoli	34
5	Juventus	33

AC Milan sent crosstown rivals Inter a message of intent after destroying struggling Siena 4-0 on Sunday. Ronaldinho, who scored a hat-trick in the contest, was sublime for Milan and seems in the mood this campaign. Inter's 2-2 draw at Bari on Saturday, sees Milan move to within 6 points.

Elsewhere, AS Roma lept into third with a composed Luca Toni grabbing two goals in their 3-0 victory over Genoa. The win was all the more impressive considering Roma were without injured skipper Francesco Totti.

Ciro Ferrara's reign at Juventus appears to be almost at a close after the Old Lady were beaten 1-0 by Chievo Verona. Juve, who have their injury troubles, lacked energy and confidence, and have now lost 4 of their last 5 in Serie A. To be honest, Chievo were the better side.

GERMAN BUNDESLIGA

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Bayer Leverkusen	38
2	Schalke 04	37
3	Bayern Munich	36
4	Hamburg SV	34
6	Werder Bremen	28

Louis van Gaal's Bayern ominously went top on Friday night after a 2-0 win over Hoffenheim, but the top five all won on Saturday meaning little changed at the summit in Germany.

Bayern, though, really do appear title favourites on the back of their fifth consecutive Bundesliga win and some decent fluent football on Friday. Fifth-placed Dortmund, too, are in decent form after claiming their fifth successive league victory in a dramatic clash which ended 3-2 at FC Koln.

In the relegation battle, bottom-club Hertha Berlin started the new year with an impressive 3-0 win at battling Hannover 96 but there's plenty of points to make up for the capital club. FC Nurnberg are also struggling following a 1-0 loss at Schalke 04.

FRENCH LIGUE 1

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Bordeaux	44
2	Lille	37
3	Montpellier	36
4	Marseille	33
5	Lyon	33

Champions League qualification firmed for in-form Lille after they made it seven consecutive Ligue 1 wins with a superb 3-1 triumph over an out-of-touch PSG. Making the victory all the more impressive, was the fact Lille did it without topscorer Gervinho who is at the African Cup of Nations.

Elsewhere, Bordeaux's lead was cut after a 1-1 draw with Marseille. After taking the lead, Bordeaux were reduced to ten men, before Marseille's late equaliser through Benoit Cheyrou.

Meanwhile, improving Monaco are all the way up to sixth after two late goals from Nene saw them beat Sochaux 2-0, while cellar-dwellers Grenoble look gone after a 2-1 home loss to St Etienne.